College district considers new harassment measures

The Maricopa County Community College District’s board is considering adding transgendered men and women to the list of groups protected from harassment.

The Arizona Republic reports the change would add “gender identity” to race, religion, sexual orientation and other protected groups under the 10 colleges’ non-discrimination policy.

It would protect students and staff who are of one gender but identify as the other gender. Those individuals, also known as transidentified, may or may not be medically transitioning to the other gender.

Family Watch International sees problems with the proposed policy.

The president of the Gilbert-based group says the protection would be too broad.

Arizona State University and the University of Arizona have had gender identity in their anti-discrimination policies for several years.